Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce recognizes excellence in business, service

By
Gary Puleo, The Times Herald

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

UPPER MERION — The sounds of Sinatra and the dimly lit elegance of the Valley Forge Casino Resort’s Waterford Ballroom in King of Prussia provided the setting for Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Celebration of Excellence Awards Wednesday evening.

After guests had dined on deconstructed blue cheese salad, stuffed chicken with fingerling potatoes and silky French-style cheesecake, the typically diverse honorees got their time in the spotlight as they stepped up to the stage of the former Lily Langtry’s Victorian Restaurant and Showplace to accept their plaques.

Following a welcome by Montco Chamber President Kathy Brandon, board member Karen Zajick of Norris Sales, Inc. introduced Entrepreneurial Excellence Award winner TechWise Group as a company that provides “comprehensive information technology services to organizations of all sizes and in various stages of growth. They have extreme expertise in all things IT, including cloud services, which we all know is very big these days.”

Accepting the award for the Conshohocken-based outfit, CEO Lauren Schwartz said she was “so grateful to be recognized in this way for our entrepreneurial excellence. As technologists we see ourselves as providing a catalyst and foundation for entrepreneurs ... and we appreciate being given this recognition and support.”

Tom Murray, general manager of Hyatt Place Philadelphia/King of Prussia and Holiday Inn Express & Suites King of Prussia, acknowledged the hostelries’ combined award for Excellence in Community Service by saying, “With both hotels, we feel that it’s an honor for us to be able to give back to our communities in which we’re allowed to do business in.”

Hyatt Place and Holiday Inn employees accomplished that goal in grand measure last summer by volunteering to paint and clean up the Centre Theater and the Montgomery County Cultural Center in Norristown.

As a prelude to presenting the award for Excellence in Restoration and Property Management to Audubon Land Development, board member Sam Augustine reminded the crowd of the makeover of the old B.F. Goodrich tire plant in Oaks into a still-evolving funplex that includes Arnold’s Family Fun Center, Arnold’s Bistro & Bar, The Water Tower nightclub and the American Treasure Tour.

John Neilson, the grandson of the founder of the family-owned development empire that has built single-family homes, shopping centers and industrial parks since the late ’50s, thanked Upper Providence Township “for their cooperation and support throughout the project. We’re excited about the success of these projects and look forward to what the future brings.”

Kristin Hillsley seemed humbled by her award for Excellence in Chamber Service, recalling how Kathy Brandon had enlisted her services by extolling the fun nature of volunteering for the chamber.

“She said it was a lot of men and women who get together to work really hard for our community … and she was right,” Hillsley said. “It’s amazing to me that I’m getting this award.”

Montco Chamber Director of Member Services Kate Boyle presented the award for Excellence in Public Service to State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery).

“Public service has long been a calling for Mike,” Boyle said. “He served as president of the West Norriton Board of Commissioners, where he worked hard to make government more responsive and accountable to the taxpayers, while holding the line on taxes, preserving open space and supporting First Responders.”

“A lot of people tonight talked about small business commitment to public safety, but you can’t do that without having a great staff,” Vereb said, thanking his staff who had accompanied him to the dinner.

Among the many people Vereb expressed gratitude toward was Matt Brouillette, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, commending him for his pro-business stand.

He wrapped up the ceremony by invoking the work of Simon’s Fund, established in 2005 in memory of Simon, son of Phyllis and Darren Sudman. The organization provides free heart screenings to children, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia area, sponsors medical research projects, hosts awareness events, works with major medical institutions and helps to promote legislation.

“I encourage you to visit the Simon’s Fund website (www.simonsfund.org) to see all the brilliant work they’re doing,” Vereb said.